Gate-fastener.



C. O. RODA.

GATE FASTENER.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 10. 1916.

Patented July 11, 1916.

If AT GATE-FASTENER.

Application filed April 10, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL Or'ro Rona, acitizen of the United States, residing at Paradise, in the county ofRussell, State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Gate-Fastener;and I do hereby declare the following to a be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a wire gate locking device, and has forits object to provide a device of this character which embodies novelfeatures of construction whereby the gate can be easily and quicklydrawn taut into a closed position, and then secured by a padlock ifdesired.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a wire gate fastener ofthis character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in itsconstruction, which can be readily mounted upon any gate post and usedin connection with the conventional wire gates, which enables the wiregate to be easily drawn taut into a closed position, and which admits ofa padlock being used to secure the gate in a closed position, therebypreventing the possible loss of stock by the failure of trespassers toproperly close the gate after opening the same.

With these and other objects in view, the invention. consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangments of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

F or a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa side elevation of a wire gate provided with a fastener constructed inaccordance with the invention, the operating lever of the fastener beingshown in a partially raised position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail viewof the upper portion of the gate fastening device, the operating leverbeing shown as partially swung into a locking position. Fig. 3 is asimilar view with the operating lever swung completely into look ingposition and secured by a padlock. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective viewof the upper end of the gate locking device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indi- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented July ill, 1916.

Serial No. 90,101.

cated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thenumeral 1 designates a gate post, and 2 a latch post, the ends of thefence wires 3 being attached to these posts in the conventional manner.The gate is of the usual construction, including longitudinal strands ofwire 4 which con nect the two end bars 5 and 6. The end bar 5 is looselyand permanently secured to the gate post 1 by suitable loops 7, whilethe end bar 6 is adapted to be engaged by the latching means andpositively drawn toward the latch post 2, in order to stretch the wires4 of the gate, when the gate is in a closed position. The lower end ofthe gate bar 6 may be held in any suitable manner, as by means of theconventional ring 8. In the present instance this ring is formed with astem 8 which is pivotally connected at 9 to the head 7 of a bolt 7.This, however, constitutes no part of the present invention, and anyconventional means may be provided for engaging the lower end of thegate bar.

A strap 10 is applied to the top of the latch post 2, the ends thereofbeing bent downwardly along opposite sides of the gate post, asindicated at 10, and secured in position by the bolts 11. This strap 10is crimped to provide an upstanding pivot lug 12, the eXtermity 12 ofthe pivot lug being bent laterally toward the gate opening, so as tohave a spaced and parallel relation to the strap 10. A looped frame 13is provided at the rear thereof with an arm 14: which is pivotallyconnected to the horizontal end 12 of the lug 12 by means of a pivotbolt 15. This looped frame 18 may be conveniently formed from a singlelen th of bar iron, the sides of the body portion of the frame beingvertically disposed, while those" portions of the bar forming the arm 14are twisted into a horizontal position. The swinging end of the frame 13is formed with an inwardly curved seat 16 adapted to receive the upperend of the gate bar 6.

The operating lever 17 is formed with a forked lower end 17 the arms ofwhich have their extremities pivotally connected by the bolts 18 to thesides of the looped frame 18. A yoke 19 has the ends thereof pivotallyconnected to the forked end of the operating lever at a point spacedfrom the pivot bolts 18, said yoke being adapted to be swung over theupper end of the gate bar 6 and to be utilized in connection with theoperating lever 17 for drawing the gate bar into engagement with theseat 16 and stretching the gate wires into a taut condition. When theoperating lever 17 is swung forward, the yoke or loop 19 is advanced sothat it can be easily swung over the upper end of the gate bar 6, thegate wires 1 being then loose. Preparatory to engaging the yoke or loop19 with the upper end of the gate bar, 6, the-lower end of the said gatebar is slipped into the ring 8. The operating lever 17 is next swungrearwardly, thereby causing the yoke or loop 19 to forcibly draw thegate bar 6 against the seat 16 of the frame 13, the gate wires 1 beingthereby a stretched taut. A continued movement of the operating lever 17brings it down into a horizontal position, at which time a dead centerisproduced between the pivot axis of the lever andthe pivot axis of theyoke.

v The end of the lever 17 is then received beto retain the same in alocked position.

tween a pair of ears 20 and 21 which project upwardly from the main bar10. The ear 21 is resilient and formed with a shoulder 21 adaptedtospring over the leverr i117 e two ears 20 and 21 are provided withcorresponding openings 22 which may receive the shackle of a padlock 23,whenit is desired to ,lock the gate in such a manner that it can notpossibly be opened by trespassers or unnected to the operating lever andadapted to engage the gate bar to force it into the seat'of the frame,and means for holding the operating lever in closed position. V

2. A, 'wire gate fastener including a swinging fraine carried by theupper end of the latch post, said frame having a looped formation andbeing provided at its free end with an inwardly curved seat, anoperating lever having a forked'end straddling the looped frame andpivotally connected to the sides thereof, a yoke member pivotallyconnected to the arms of the forked end of the frame and adapted to beswung over the gate bar to draw it into engagement with the seat of thelooped frame, and means for holding the operating lever in a closedposition.

'8. A wire gate fastener, including a cap member applied to the top ofthe fence post and provided with an upstanding pivot lug, a loopedswinging frame having an inwardly curved seat at the outer end thereofand provided at its inner end with an arm which'is pivotally connectedto the upstanding lug of the cap member, an operating lever having abifurcated end which straddles the looped frame and is pivotallyconnected to the sides thereof, a yoke member pivotally connected to theoperating lever and adapted to be swung over the upper end ofthe gatebar for cooperation with the operating lever to draw the gate bar intoongagement with the seat of the looped frame, and coiiperating earsprojecting upwardly from the cap member for engagement withtheioperating lever to hold it in a closed position.

4. A wire gate fastener, a cap member applied to the top of the latchpost and formed with an upstanding pivot lug, a looped frame having aninwardly curved seat at the outer end thereof and provided at its innerend with an arm which is pivotally connected to the upstanding lug ofthe cap piece, an operating lever formed with a forked end which ispivotally mounted upon the sides of the looped frame, a yoke memberpivotally connected to the operating lever and adapted to be swung overthe upper end of the gate bar for drawing the same into a firmengagement with the seat of the looped frame, and ears upon the cappiece for engaging the operating lever to hold it in a closed position,the looped frame and gate bar receiving ring being both adapted to beswung laterally, to give a maximum clearance space through the gateopening.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL OTTO 'RODA.

Witnesses:

BERNARD B. BRooKovER, RAY J. CREVAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

